The curious antennae of Melophagus Ovinus have been already 

 alluded to in folio 122, and we wish now further to call the 

 attention of the student to their remarkable structure, as they 

 appear hitherto to have escaped observation, and they are 

 scarcely analogous to any other antennae unless it be to those 

 of the LihellulidcE. The antennae are of a leathery substance, 

 somewhat globose covered with short hair, being hollow part 

 of the way down, at the bottom of the cavity is attached a thin 

 process, cleft at the apex and probably moveable ; but from 

 its minuteness it is difficult to ascertain whether it can be ex- 

 serted and withdrawn at the will of the animal. The trophi 

 exhibited at fig. 2. are particularly long and very much 

 bent ; although this insect is one of the few that is apterous in 

 both sexes, the thorax is slightly produced where those organs 

 are attached in the neighbouring genera. 



Our insect is one of the many that attack sheep, and is 

 found I believe all the year round, our friend Mr. Carpenter 

 having sent us some as early as March. In the 1st volume of 

 the Introduction to Entomology we find the following passage 

 relating to our subject. " But of all our cattle, none are more 

 valuable and important to us than our JlocJiS ; to them we look 

 not only for a principal part of our food, but also for clothing 

 and even light. Thick as is their coat of wool, it does not 

 shield them from the attack of all-subduing insects : on the 

 contrary it affords a comfortable shelter to one of their enemies 

 of this class, regarded by Linne as a species of Hippobosca, 

 but properly separated from that genus by Latreille under 

 the name of Melophagus. This is commonly called the sheep- 

 louse, and is so tenacious of life that we are told by Ray it 

 will exist hi a fleece twelve months after it is shorn, and its 

 excrements are said to give a green tinge to the wool very 

 difficult to be discharged." 



The plant figured, Hydrocotyle vulgaris (called Pennyrot, 

 Sheep-killing Penny grass. Water Pennywort, White-rot, &c.) 

 is supposed by some to cause the rot in sheep. 



